A prepaid crypto card spends money you load first and builds no credit history. A debit card draws on an account. A credit card lends you money, reports to credit bureaus and charges interest on unpaid balances. Each card on this site is classed using the issuer’s own description.
Figures as of October 31, 2026.
| Card | Type (issuer) | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Shakepay Card | Prepaid | Visa |
| Crypto.com Visa | Prepaid | Visa |
| ether.fi Cash | Credit | Visa |
| MetaMask Card | Debit | Mastercard |
| Prepaid | Debit | Credit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money spent | A balance you loaded | Your account balance | The issuer’s money, repaid later |
| Credit check to get it | Usually no | Usually no | Yes |
| Builds credit history | No | No | Yes, if reported |
| Interest | None | None | On unpaid balances |
| Overspending risk | Limited to the balance | Limited to the balance | Up to the credit limit |
| Card and tier | Shakepay Card — Base |
|---|---|
| Purchases in CAD | $600 a month |
| Purchases in a foreign currency | $0 a month |
| Rewards (at the CAD value when credited) | $72.00 a year1% of eligible spend, paid in BTC |
| Fixed fees | $0.00 |
| Foreign-currency fees | $0.00 |
| Net a year | $72.00No fixed fee to recover. |
Open this example in the calculator →Computed 2026-11-03.
What this means for you
None of the verified crypto cards is a credit card, so none builds credit history. If that matters to you, keep a regular credit card for it.
Questions people ask
Do prepaid crypto cards build credit?
No. Shakepay and Crypto.com are prepaid and spend balances you loaded; they do not lend you money.
Is ether.fi Cash a real credit card?
ether.fi calls it a credit card, but Borrow Mode is a loan against your crypto at a variable rate, not unsecured bank credit. Check the terms for bureau reporting.
Can I overdraw a prepaid crypto card?
Prepaid cards spend only the balance loaded, within the issuer’s limits.
Which type is safest if my card is stolen?
A prepaid card caps the loss at its balance and daily limits; freeze it in the app at once in every case.
Sources
- Shakepay — Card — no date shown; read October 31, 2026
- Shakepay Help Centre — What are the Shakepay reward statuses? — page dated October 31, 2026
- Shakepay Help Centre — Cashback rewards with the Shakepay Prepaid Visa Card — no date shown; read October 31, 2026
- Shakepay Help Centre — What are the fees and limits of the Shakepay Card? — no date shown; read October 31, 2026
- Shakepay Help Centre — How do I order and use my physical Shakepay Card? — no date shown; read October 31, 2026
- Shakepay Help Centre — How does the Shakepay Card work? — no date shown; read October 31, 2026
- Shakepay Visa Prepaid Card — Cardholder Agreement (Peoples Trust Company) — no date shown; read October 31, 2026
- CSA — Crypto platforms authorized to do business with Canadians — page dated September 18, 2026
- Crypto.com — Crypto.com Visa Card (Canada) — no date shown; read November 1, 2026
- Crypto.com Help Center — Prepaid Visa Card Fees and Limits (Canada) — no date shown; read November 1, 2026
- Crypto.com Help Center — Prepaid Card Rewards & Benefits — no date shown; read November 1, 2026
- Bank of Canada Valet — USD/CAD (FXUSDCAD) — page dated November 2, 2026
- ether.fi Help — In which countries is the Cash card available? — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- ether.fi Help — What are the benefits of a personal Cash credit card? — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- ether.fi Help — How does cashback work? — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- ether.fi Help — What’s the foreign exchange (FX) rate used on Cash transactions? — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- ether.fi Help — ATM withdrawal limits for personal Cash cards — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- ether.fi Help — Which transactions don’t earn cashback? — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- ether.fi Help — Borrow Mode vs Direct Pay Mode — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- ether.fi Help — How do I add my card to Apple Wallet or Google Pay? — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- MetaMask — MetaMask Card — no date shown; read November 3, 2026
- MetaMask Support — MetaMask Card limits and fees — no date shown; read November 4, 2026
- CDIC — Fintechs — no date shown; read October 30, 2026
Educational information, not financial, tax or legal advice. 5 min read. Reviewed October 31, 2026.